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Should I Get LASIK Eye Surgery?

Do you suffer from poor eyesight? If so, you’ve probably considered your options outside of wearing glasses or contact lenses every day. One extremely effective and popular option is LASIK eye surgery. If you’re looking at long term correction so you don’t need to worry about lenses anymore, then LASIK can help. Here’s a guide to help your decision-making process.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK is a laser eye surgery that aims to permanently improve the shape of the cornea in the eye. Patients usually don’t need to wear glasses or contact lenses for many years after. LASIK has been safely used for many years and has a history of effective results and safety.

Who Is a Candidate for This Surgery?

It’s important to know that there are some people who are better candidates for this procedure than others. During the procedure, a flap is created in the cornea using the laser system to gain access to the lower layers of the cornea. If the cornea is not thick enough, you run the risk of damage to the other important areas of the eye.

Can I have LASIK more than once?

LASIK cannot prevent the eyes from continuing to change over the course of your life. Your ophthalmologist can determine whether you can benefit from another LASIK procedure in the future. 

Is LASIK worth it?

The reality is that over 99% of people who have LASIK surgeries report that they are satisfied with the outcome. This makes it one of the highest rates of satisfaction out of any type of surgery! It’s important to discuss your concerns with your ophthalmologist so they can help you make an informed decision about your LASIK options.

Schedule a Consultation

LASIK can be a life-changing option for patients looking for a quick and easy laser correction procedure. To begin discussing your options, contact us today by calling or filling out our online form.

Taking the Right Steps to Protect Your Eyes

Your eye muscles work way more than you probably think– about 100,000 times per day. They work very hard looking at the world around you, so you want to make sure you treat them with care and concern. Even if you are starting to have problems with your eyes, you can still follow a few steps that will protect your vision and stop it from getting worse. Here are some lifestyle changes to make to help get the most out of your eyes over time.

Always Get Enough Sleep

If you are not getting enough sleep at night, you run the risk of dry eyes. Dry eyes can then lead to itchiness, pain, and blurred vision.

Take a Much-Needed Break

It’s true– as a society, we depend on our cell phones and other electronic devices more and more. While technology can do great things, it can take a toll on your vision over the course of a lifetime. If you work on a computer, you could spend up to eight or more hours a day simply looking at a screen. If you get home and turn on the TV or play video games, you’re adding more hours to the amount of time you strain your eyes focusing on a screen.

Taking regular breaks to look at something away from your screen for a few minutes at a time can help to give your eyes a rest. You can even couple this with standing and walking around to make sure you’re staying healthy overall!

Reduce the Brightness of Your Screen

Most of our electronic devices default to the brightest screen there is. Staring at this screen for hours a day will cause unnecessary strain on your eyes. It can also lead to regular headaches. Be sure to turn down the brightness on your screen (although, not so low that you strain to see it!). You should also be looking slightly down at your screen if you work on a computer or laptop. This cuts down the glare on your eyes. Also, consider using a blue light filter on your phone during the evening to help reduce strain while it’s darker outside.

Don’t Check Your Phone in the Dark

It’s easy to want to check Facebook “one last time” as you are lying in bed in the dark. However, doing so actually strains your eyes even more due to the glare coming from your phone or any other device. Once you put your phone down for the night, let it stay there. You’ll protect your eyes and enjoy a more peaceful sleep.

Enjoy Antioxidants

Certain nutrient-dense foods have been found to lower the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two antioxidants that can be found in dark green, leafy vegetables. Pick up some spinach or kale for better eyesight. Carrots will help, as well. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, which is the precursor to Vitamin A. This vitamin can assist with eye function.

Invest in Good Sunglasses

Have you ever noticed that your eyes can feel gritty and tired when you are out in the hot sun? That’s because your eyes can easily feel the blazing heat. Make sure to invest in a good pair of sunglasses that block both UVB and UVA rays. You’ll protect your eyes from the glare of the sun, and it will not be as hard to see while you’re outside. If you spend a lot of time near water, consider polarized lenses to cut down on glare that reflects off water and can cause damage.

Schedule a Consultation

Campus Eye Group & Laser Center is a leader when it comes to eye care and LASIK surgery. We have been helping patients take care of their eyes for over 35 years, and we continue to grow as our reputation for experience and quality care precedes us. Contact us by calling or filling out our online form to schedule a consultation with our expert ophthalmologists.

Eye Health Tips for Men and Women Over 60

Your eye health can begin to deteriorate with age. Men and women over the age of 60 might begin to notice certain conditions that require treatment. There are also certain precautions and tips that men and women should follow to maintain their eye health. 

Women May Be at a Higher Risk for Certain Eye Diseases

Women are more likely than men to have vision problems and issues due to glaucoma. It is important for all women to follow the screening guidelines and listen to what their ophthalmologist recommends when they go in for an appointment. Putting off treatment can result in worsening conditions that could even lead to blindness. 

Low Vision

Having low vision can cause even the most mundane daily tasks to become difficult. Normal aging won’t always lead to low vision. This problem can also be a result of injuries, eye disease, or both. Low vision symptoms may include the loss of peripheral or central vision, night blindness, or blurred vision. A person with these symptoms might have problems recognizing faces, shopping, reading, or driving. An ophthalmologist will look for any underlying conditions that may be causing you to experience these symptoms. Some people simply need brighter lighting sources in their homes. Always speak to your ophthalmologist if you have any concerns. 

Avoiding Eye Injuries

Home improvements can cause eye injuries in men and women who do not protect their eyes. Of course, wearing protective eyewear can easily prevent this from occurring, so everyone should have one or more pairs of safety glasses readily available.

It is also very important to reduce fall risks, which can occur more often as we age because of changes in balance and vision. 

Systemic Health Issues

Systemic health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure may also cause eye health problems in women and men. If you frequently cannot see clearly, this could be a sign of diabetes or high blood pressure. Always inform your ophthalmologist about your current health conditions and any medication use. 

Exercise

Regular exercise does more for a person than just weight loss. It also stimulates oxygen intake and blood circulation, something the eyes need. However, weight loss is important for more than just aesthetic reasons. Staying within a healthy weight range will reduce your risk of diabetes and then diabetic retinopathy. Gentle exercise can be effective ways to stay healthy and happy. Consider stretching, bike riding, walking, tai chi, or yoga. Always wear protective eyewear during sports activities to protect your eyes from injury. You should also wear sunscreen every time that you are outside. 

Sleep

Our eyes continuously lubricate themselves as we sleep. They also clear away any irritants that may have accumulated during your day, as well. There are studies that propose that there are light-sensitive cells in our eyes that help to regulate every one of our wake-sleep cycles. Because of this, we need to always protect our eyes from too much exposure to ultraviolet light. In order to maintain a normal wake-sleep cycle, we should also make sure to regularly expose our eyes to natural light sources. 

Campus Eye Group & Laser Center offers men and women full-service eye care. We have been in business for over 35 years and are dedicated to our patients. Contact us today if you are concerned about your eyes or if you have any questions that we can answer. We are here to help. 

 

Cataract Surgery

When you imagine a cataract, think about something that covers the lens of your eye and that prevents you from seeing like you normally would. Glasses won’t make a difference in how well you can see when you have a cataract, which is why you’ll likely need to have surgery performed. 

Benefits of Cataract Surgery in Trenton

One benefit of cataract surgery is that you might not need to rely on wearing glasses as often as you did before the procedure. You’ll usually discover that cataracts are a normal part of the aging process and that there is a high percentage of people over the age of 80 who have had them at some point. With modern technology and the care provided by Campus Eye Group, this type of surgery is effective and safe. 

How is Cataract Surgery Performed in Trenton?

Most cataract surgeries are performed in an outpatient facility. You won’t be put to sleep as you would with other types of surgeries, but you’ll be sedated so that you’re comfortable. Keep in mind that your eye will need to remain open during the procedure so that the cataract can be removed. 

After you’re comfortable and in the operating room, your doctor will remove the lens that has become clouded. An artificial lens will then be placed in your eye. This artificial lens will provide the clear vision that you had before the cataract developed and often better vision than you had before surgery. Since the procedure is performed in an outpatient facility and usually doesn’t take long to complete, there’s typically no need to stay in a hospital overnight. 

During the surgery, ultrasound technology is used to break apart the cataract so that it’s in small pieces. This makes it easier to remove through a suction procedure instead of making multiple incisions in your eye. Since there are fewer and smaller incisions made, the recovery time is faster and an easier process. There are also fewer complications that present with this type of surgery including a decreased risk of an infection. Once the lens is completely removed, your doctor from Campus Eye Group will place the clear lens. This is placed right where your natural lens was so that it can function as naturally as possible. You usually won’t be able to tell that there is a different lens in your eye as it’s the same size and shape as your natural one. You will need to go back to your doctor at Campus Eye Group the next day after your surgery and then as necessary to ensure that your eye is healing properly. 

To get started on your treatment and to learn more about cataract surgery, contact Campus Eye Group today. 

When Should I Stop Wearing Contact Lenses Before LASIK?

 

LASIK surgery is widely performed as a permanent vision correction procedure. However, there are certain things you can do that can impact the success of your surgery. If you have been wearing contact lenses for a long time, you’ve most likely become accustomed to them. In the months leading to the LASIK surgery, the eye specialist will advise you to stop using contacts and use glasses instead. Here are some common questions about this important step.

Why Should I Discontinue Wearing Contact Lenses Before LASIK Surgery?

Contact lenses, when worn over time, will change certain aspects of your eye structure. These changes can affect the doctor’s assessment when deciding whether you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Your eye specialists will explain that your eyes need to be in their natural shape and state before an eye evaluation. If your eyes are not in their natural state, then they can easily change after the surgery, and this will affect the success of the laser procedure.

How do Contact Lenses Impact Your Eyes?

Contact lenses have a physical interaction with the eyes. As a result, they influence and alter the eyes over time. Here’s how:

Shape

Suctioning is used to hold the contacts in place on the eyes. Consequently, this alters the shape of the cornea due to the pressure applied. The degree of this change depends on the lenses and the duration of wearing them.

Hydration

The physical attributes of the eye are largely influenced by the levels of water on the surface and the tissue that forms the cornea. Contacts are placed on the tissue and therefore change the moisture level in the cornea. This change has an impact on how well the laser cuts and eventually shapes the tissue.

Inflammation

While contacts help to correct your vision, your body treats them as foreign objects. To counter this, the body releases an immune response often characterized by swelling or mild irritation. This is mainly experienced days or weeks after they are placed. Naturally, upon removal, the eye reverts to its natural state. This is why it important for you to stop wearing them before laser surgery.

When Should I Stop Wearing Contact Lenses Before LASIK?

This answer depends on several factors. The contact lens material is one of them.  Another determining factor is how long you have had the contact lenses on. The precise period is determined after a doctor’s examination.

Do I Need Contact Lenses after the LASIK Surgery?

In most cases, LASIK surgery yields a 20/20 vision. However, there are times when the surgery is not entirely effective. If the doctor advises you to continue with the contacts, you need to give ample time for the eye to heal before reverting to contacts. In this case, you’ll be given an exact timeframe to follow.

It’s important to note that your contacts will need refitting after the eye heals. This is because the eye takes a new shape after the surgery. Additionally, your doctor may recommend eye drops to deal with dry eyes, which are a common symptom after eye surgery.

Schedule a Consultation

LASIK can be a life-changing surgery if you want to be free of glasses and contact lenses. To begin discussing your options with LASIK, contact our office by calling or filling out our online form.